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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARCUS P. NORTON, OF TROY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND CHARLES EDDY da OO.

HAND-STAMP FOR POST-OFFICES.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 34,184, dated January 14, 1862.

.marking Hand-Stamps; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the nature, construction, and

operation thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

Figure I is a perspective view. Fig. 2. shows a division of the entire hand-stamp vertically through the center. Fig. 3 shows the face of the stationary form of type D D and each of the cylinder-type as in a condition ready to givean impression in print upon an envelope, railroad-ticket, letter, package, or anything else desired. Fig. fi shows the channel or groove for the cast type, as shown at Fig. 5.

Like letters represent and refer to like parts in the drawings.

The nature of my invention consists in constructing, combining, and arranging a hand-stamp, hereinafter described, so as to contain a cylinder with initials of each and every month in the year and two other cylinders with figures for the respective days of each and every month; also, a cylinder with iigures or characters to represent ten successive years, more or less, as the case may be, which cylinders shall each and all revolve upon the same shaft and within a stationary form of type, and thereby print the month, the day of the month, and the year in con- :nection with each, and each in connection with and at the same time of the printing of the subject-matter upon the aforesaid stationary form of type.

It also consists in constructing a ring or stationary type-holder with a dovetailed chan nel or groove, so that the name of any town required may be set therein, together with the initials of any State required, and when thus arranged are then and there firmly secured ready for use.

It also further consists in firmly securing and fastening each and every of the aforesaid cylinders in their respective places, as and where adjusted by the means hereinafter described. Y

The respective parts are so arranged as to render them easily cleaned and readily adjusted to their proper and required places, also easily repaired or replaced when worn out.

By arranging and combining each and every part required to postmark any letter or envelope in the manner and form hereinafter described and set forth, there will be no liability or possibility of any part thereof being lost while being transmitted in the mails or being lost at the post-office or elsewhere where the same may be required or transmitted unless the entire stamp be lost.

This stamp is more convenient for postmasters and others using it on account of its being easily and readily adjusted to the month, day of the month, and to the year, and requiring not as much care to look after the various parts as now required by other stamps. It occupies much less room in the mail-bags while being transmitted to its place of destination. It takes less time, trouble, and expense to prepare it for such transmisslon.

All the difficulties attending the efficient and successful use of the present hand-stamp for postmarking letters as now used by the Government are fully and completely Overcome by the use of this stamp. Each and every part containing letters or ligures may be cast in a mold made expressly for that purpose, which parts when in their respective places are ready for use Without any engraving thereon. The letters or figures may be cast, chilled, or casehardened,thereby making them cheaper than if made of wrought-iron or steel,although they may be made of such or other material, and engraved, if desired.

This stamp may be used by railroad companies for the purpose of dating tickets, dac., and may be also used by banks for any purpose there required. It may be used Whenever andwherever desired, when and where it may be.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and to use my invention, I will now proceed to describe the construction and operation thereof.

a is the type-cylinder, containing initials for each and every month in the year, and is cast in a mold made expressly for the purpose of making such cylinders and letters thereon ready for use. This mold is made in six, twelve, or more parts, so it may be drawn from said cylinder when cast.

b is a cylinder of the same diameter of a, and contains the numerals 1 2 3, which are the only ones required upon this cylinder to give, in connection with the cylinder c, the respective days of each month, as may be required. This cylinder is made in the same Way and manner asv the cylinder a.

c is another type-cylinder of the same diameter as a and b, and contains the numerals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and a (O) cipher. This cylinder, in connection with cylinder b, will give any day in any month desired, and is made in the same way and manner as the cylinders a b, and is placedv in close proximity to the cylinder b.

d is another type-cylinder of the same diameter as the cylinders ct b c, and contains figures for an abridgment for ten successive years, and is made in the same way and manner as each of the aforesaid cylinders. These cylinders are each and all arranged upon the shaft C, Fig. 2, and are made fast in the required place of each by the screw F upon one end of the said shaft C. This shaft C' has a shoulder or stop upon the end opposite of the said screw, which shoulder bears directly against the cylinder a and the said cylinder a against the cylinder b and the cylinderl b against the cylinder c and the cylinder c against the cylinder d and the cylinder d against that part of the frame B having therein the female part of the said screw F. By moving the said shaft C each cylinder is drawn against the other next adjoining, as aforesaid, thereby holding each cylinder by the friction of the cylinder or cylinders next thereto. The shaft C has a bearing of greater diameter at one end thereof than at the other end. This is for the purpose as hereinbefore described.

The said stationaryforin D D may be made in a circle or any other shape desired, which shall contain the name of post-office where used and the-initials of the State where such post-oiicemay be located, or any other matter may be therein contained as the case may require. It is made of any required thickness and has an inside and an outside ring or circle around the said type representing the name of the town or post-office where used, &c. It may be cast, chilled, case-hard ened, or otherwise constructed, in the same manner as the aforesaid type-cylinders; but the cheapest, best, and most convenient way or manner to construct it is as shown at Fig. 4, Where e represents or shows a channel or groove down and in the said ring D D. This channel or groove is cut from one-fourth to three-eights of an inch in depth, or more or less, as may be found necessary. ,It is cut square down with the inner ring, while the side next to the outer ring is cut dovetailing, thus making the said channel or groove wider at the bottom than at the top thereof.

This is to hold any type set therein in the proper place for each and in condition for printing, dac., as aforesaid.

At f is an opening so as to receive the type, as shown at Fig. 5. This groove is also shown at Fig. 2 in said form D. When the type ltype from coming out of the said channel or groove. When the said form, as Shown at Fig. 4, is placed within the frame B, Figs. 1 and 2, then the opening f is closed up by means thereof. When the type, as shown at Fig. 6, are placed in the channel or groove e, Fig. 4, the face of said form and the face of the said type are upon a line with each, and thereby give an impression in print even and at the same time and operation. The said type are cast in a mold as required tofit the said channel or groove. By this arrangement there will be no engraving required, nor any setting up of form for the purpose of casting from for the respective post-offices, towns,

States, railroad-stations, names of railroads,

85e., fory such can be set from a font of such type made on purpose and kept at the Post Office Department or elsewhere, and set up in the said channel or grooves, as aforesaid.

l The form D D, Figs. 1, 2, an-d 4, is fitted into the lower part of the frame B and there firmly fastened by means of the screws E E, Figs. 1 and 2. There is a mortise or opening in and through the aforesaid form D D for the purpose of receiving the aforesaid cylinders a b c CL, whereby the printing-surfaces of the same are upon a direct and even line of and with the aforesaid stationary form of type D D, so as to give an equal impression 'in print each with each. The aforesaid type-cylinders a Z2 c d revolve upon the shaft C within the said form of type DD and the printing-surface of each is then and always upon a line with each other, whereby the desired impression in print and in ink is given. The frame B may be screwed or fastened to the handleA in any manner deemed best.

This stamp can be made at much less expense than any other kind of stamp or stamps for the same use and purpose, and is much more convenient, and is not as liable to get out of repair. No part of it can well be lost unless the entire stamp is lost, which is to be considered in the transmission of postmarking stamps through the mails, for now there are so many separate and disconnected members or pieces that they are liable to and in very many instances are lost in such transmission and at post-offices where used, which are expensive and often inconvenient to replace. It is more easily adj usted for use and can be kept in repair at much less expense than any other stamp for the same use and purpose. Any other matter required to be printed upon envelopes, letters, dac., at any post-office, or any railroad-station, or at any bank, &c., may be done in the same way and manner by preparing type expressly therefor upon one, two, or more cylinders to revolvein such stationary form.

Having thus described the nature and the construction of my hand-stamp aforesaid, I will now proceed to describe its operation, which is simple and easy to be understood. The cylinder a for the months revolves upon the shaft c, and is brought into any required position on a line with the printing-surface of the stationary type or formD D, and there remains for and during the months for which it is set or fixed, which when the month is ended is then moved forward for the next month in succession, and so the operation is continued until the year is completed, when the same operation is again repeated. The cylinder b is moved forward one figure every ten days during any month or year. The cylinder c is moved forward one iigure every day of the week, month, and year. The cylinder d is moved forward one figure every year during the term of ten years, when a new cylinder is put in its place to answer to the next ten successive years, and so on the operation continues without limitation. By the use of these cylinders, as herein described, any year, mouth, and day of the month of any year may be given and printed, while at the same time the name of the town, post-oiice, railroad-station, bank,&c.,is given, as aforesaid. When each of the aforesaid cylinders is adjusted to its proper place, as desired, it is there irnily held by turning the shaft c, which by means of the said screw thereon will then bring each cylinder against the other next adjoining thereto and the side of cylinder d against the frame B, in the manner and form as hereinbefore described. The impression is made upon the envelope, letter, package, or whatever desired by giving a downward and striking motion thereon, and so the operation continues for postmarking letters or anything else desired by the use of this stamp.

This stamp may be made any size and strength desired. Any part thereof can easily be replaced whenever for any purpose it may be required.

I do not claim the particular device patented to G. J. W. Robertson on the 22d day of September, 1857; but

What I do claim is 1. The combination of four cylinders a b c d upon the shaft C, with the stationary form of type D D, whereby the day, month, and year are given together by one impression, substantially as herein described and set forth.

2. The combination of the shaft C, with four cylinders a b c d thereon arranged, with the frame B, whereby the said cylinders are firmly held in their adjusted position, substantially as herein described and set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. I

Troy, New York, August 3, 1861.

MARCUS P. NORTON.

In presence of WANER C. SoUTHwIoK, S. E. BLAKELY. 

